On Aug 30, 2005, at 6:01 PM, digitaladdictions wrote:

> I would like to experiment with the rfPICs and purchased a pair only
> to realize  that I got SSOP packages. So I look for adapters for the
> PICstart and noticed that they are going for like $130 to $200. Am I
> missing something here or aren't adapters basically just a bunch of
> wires connecting the pins of one connector to the equivalent pins
> of the other connector.

The programmer adaptors for SSOP/etc parts are marvels of mechanical
engineering, designed to securely hold those fragile parts with their
leads in good electrical contact with where they are supposed to go,
while not letting them bend off to where they're not supposed to go.
I don't know if they're worth $200, but it's easy to see where at
least some of the money goes.

You probably want adaptors like the ones at the bottom of the page
here:

http://www.sparkfun.com/shop/index.php?shop=1&cart=382808&cat=66&

where you permanently mount your SSOP package to a small PCB that
turns it into an easily-handleable DIP forevermore (at a small fraction
of the price.)

BillW
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